Door for refrigerator cars



March 31, 1931. K. .1. TOBIN ET AL DOOR FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS 2 Sheets-Sheet l -f/v VEN TORS Filed Sept. 27, 1928 KENNETH J 755W Dsweow March 31, 1931. K. J. TOBIN ET AL 4 1,798,181

DOOR FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Sept. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f? -2 fiz' -a J; E z g w i 1 1 2 i 2 \1 iiia i 1 KENNETH J 705W W/LL/HM M/ DHRROW Patented Mural, 1931 KENNETH J. TOBIN AND WILLIW W. DARROW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T "mun COMPANY. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS DOOR FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Application filed Septeniber Q7, 1928. Serial No. 308,852.

This invention relates to refrigerator doors for refrigerator cars.

It is an object of this invention to ptovide insulating means along the hinged edges of the doors, such insulating means being fastened to the door and brought into compression between metal members in combination with means for tightly closing the doors so that said insulating means will be compressed 1D and retained in such position.

A further object of'this invention is to apply a corrugated metal panel to the outside of the door in such a manner that dead air spaces will occur between the sheet metal panel and the door proper due to the corrugation.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings-which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views: v

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a'refrigerator car embodying a pair of doors involving this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line H-H of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line III-J11 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line IV'IV of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken upon theline VV of. F ig-, ure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a portion of the side wall of a refrigerator car having a door opening, to the lateral margins of which the doors 1 and 2 are hinged by means of suitable hinges 3. Each door consists of a body portion which may be variously constructed. The body portion of each door is covered bya sheet metal panel 4 which is suitably corrugated and which is so attached that the corrugations thereof serve as dead air. spaces. edge of each door there is a metal strip 5 which is shown in Figure 4. In the present instance, the metal strip 5 consists of an angular member having one flange overlapping the margin of the sheet metal panel and thoroughly sealing the edge thereof, with the other flange extending over a portion of the lateral edge of the door as indicated at 5a.

The flange 5a is shown as of arcuate form. Upon the lateral margin of each door opening there is a metal strip 6 which is in the Upon the hinged form of an angle member having, one flange overlapping the outer wall of the car and having the other flange 6a directed along the lateral margin of the door opening and being curved to correspond with the arcuate flangeea of the metal strip 5. Insulating means 7 are located between the inetal'strips. The insulating means may be carried by the door or by the lateral edge of the door opening. In the present instance it is, however,

shown as attached to the door and the same may be readily replaced without disturbing any parts of the car or door.

The'front or meeting edges of the door are inclined as shown in Figure 5 so that one edge will overlap the other. The edge of one door is shown as provided with a groove '8 for receiving compressible insulating means 9. Suitable insulating means may be placed *between the upper and lower edges of the door in the upper and lower walls of the door opening and in Figure 2 there is shown suitable insulating means 10 located in a groove 11 in the upper walls of the door opening. It will, of course, be understood that similar insulating means may be used at the bottom of the doors.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that the front edge of the door 1 overlaps the door 2. Now, if the door 1 is forced inwardly when the'doors are at substantially closed position, the lateral insulating means 7 will be compressed, as Well as the insulating means 9 be tween the doors. Further, iflatching mechanism can be provided for maintaining an inward pressure upon the doors, ing means will be firmly maintained under compression. This invention embodies means for performing this function. To this end, a

latching bar 12 is pivoted to the door 1 intermediate its ends. While the particular manner of pivoting the latching bar to the door 1. is immaterial, my convenlent method consists of attaching a casting 13 upon the door 1. The casting 13 is shown as provided with a socket 14, Figure 5. A casting 15 is secured to the latching bar 15 and this casting is provided with a shank 15a extending into said socket. A bolt 16 extending through the casting 13 and shank 15 pivotally connects the latching bar to said casting. The ends of the latching bar 12 are provided with castings 17. Each casting 17 has a projecting flange or lip 18. Suitable keepers 19 and 20 are secured in suitable position upon the upper and lower parts" of the car to receive the ends of a latching bar 12. It will be noted that these keepers face in opposite directions in order that the ends ofthe latching bar may engage thereunder when the same is swung as indicated in Figure 1. Each vertical position,

pivotal keeper 19 and 20 is provided with a lip or flange 21 under which the lips 18 of the latching bar engage. Each keeper is also provided with an outwardly flarin wall 22 so that when the bar is swung, it wi l engage the flaring wall 22 and as the bar is swung to the flaring walls will force the bar inwardly, at the same time forcing the doors tightly together and compressing the insulating means aforementioned.

In order to maintain the latching bar 12 in its operative position, a latching member 23 is pivotally connected to the door 1 in such a position that it may be swung into engagement with the latching bar below the connection thereof. The latching bar 23 is provided with a depending lug 24 that engages a depending lug 25 on an angular metal wrist 26 secured to the latching bar 12 and which supports the latching bar 23 in its horizontal position. The 25 may be apertured as shown in Figure 1 for receiving a sealing wire. It will be observed that the free ends of the latching bar 23 are slightly inclined as indicated at 27 so that as the same swing downwardly into place, they will tend to force the latching bar 12 tightly under its keepers and maintain the same in such position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that an important advantage is secured in the relation between the insulating means for the door and the latching mechanism which tends to maintain the insulating means under compression, at the same time preventing the loss of temperature around the perimeter of the doors and between the meeting edges thereof. According to this invention, refrigthe insulatlapping front lugs 24: and

wearer 1. In a refrigerator car having a door opening, a door hinged to a lateral margin of said opening, coacting curved metal strips, one on the hinged margin of the door and the other on the adjacent wall, of said car, insulating means between said metal strips and latching means for closing said door and for exerting inward pressure thereon for compressing said insulating means.

2. In a refrigerator car having a door opening, a door hinged to each lateral margin of the opening, said doors having inclined overedges, a curved metal strip upon the hinged edge of each door, a curved metal strip upon each lateral wall of said door opening, insulating material between latching means piv each pair of strips and oted to one door and slopingkeepers upon the car for engagement by said latching means for forcing said doors inwardly and compressing said insulating means.

3. In a refrigerator car having a door opening, a door hinged to one margin of sai opening, said door having a curved metal strip upon its hinged end, a cooperating curved metal strip upon the adjacent wall of the car, insulating means between said metal strips and means for latching the dooi' in closed position, said means forcing the door inwardly for compressing said insulating means and maintaining the same in compressed, condition.

1. In a refrigerator car door, tion, a corrugated sheet metal panel a body porsecured to said body portion and having its perimeter ty, Illinois.

KENNETH J. TOBIN. WILLIAM W. DARROW.

the patent granted hereon, otherwise 

